If you're a regular reader of Gizmag, then you've probably noticed that we're avid fans of Lego and the many amazingcontraptions often created with them. But as much fun as these little plastic bricks can be, high price tags make it difficult for many people to build the more elaborate Lego models they really want. With Pleygo, people can pay a much cheaper monthly fee to rent numerous Lego sets one at a time, much as Netflix rents out movies.

Netflix users will find Pleygo's system very familiar. More than merely shipping out chosen Lego sets, it also requires subscribers to rank several selections in a queue to determine which sets they receive. Pleygo offers three monthly subscription plans: a US$15 Fan one for small and medium-sized sets, a $25 Super Fan one that adds some large sets, and a $39 Mega Fan subscription that includes the biggest sets the company offers. Browsing the website, it looks like the sets range in size from the simple 31-piece Duplo Number Train to the massive 3,803-piece Death Star from Star Wars.

Each Lego set arrives in a custom box with the required pieces, full building instructions, and a Spare Pieces Bag that contains replacements for the 25 most commonly lost bricks. All of the pieces in each set are thoroughly counted and sterilized before leaving the processing facility to ensure they arrive in as good as new condition. Pleygo has also stated that subscribers will not be charged if a few Lego bricks go missing while they're building and playing with them.

Once you're ready to move on to a different set, just collect all the pieces in a provided plastic bag, seal them up in the same box they arrived in, and attach the included return shipping label. Then just drop it into any mailbox and the next set in your queue should show up in 2-8 days, depending on the mail schedule. There's no limit on the number of exchanges, and subscribers will also have the option to just buy a set at retail price if they decide they want to keep it.

Pleygo's plan is fairly simple, but it could definitely entice Lego fans that just like the building process as well as parents with kids who get bored easily. Larger sets like the Death Star or the Super Star Destroyer typically cost about $400 brand new, putting them well out of many households' budgets, but $40 a month for multiple sets is much more affordable. Aside from loaning out Lego sets, the company is also holding regular contests for kids to show off their custom creations and offering store credit to people who donate their own Lego bricks to Pleygo.

Currently, Pleygo is only shipping within the U.S., but the company has stated they hope to expand the service internationally in 2014.

Jonathan grew up in Norway, China, and Trinidad before graduating film school and becoming an online writer covering green technology, history and design, as well as contributing to video game news sites like Filefront and 1Up. He currently resides in Texas, where his passions include video games, comics, and boring people who don't want to talk about either of those things. All articles by Jonathan FincherFollow @jonathanfincher

Well, I'm in - this is a great idea on so many levels. Build it - don't have to store it!

Tammy Fincher 13th August, 2013 @ 01:52 pm PDT

No building stuff with multiple kits is where the real fun is. I was building airplanes and spaceships long before Lego was offering kits for them.

Slowburn 13th August, 2013 @ 10:24 pm PDT

great idea

Bill Dodge 16th August, 2013 @ 02:16 pm PDT

It is good if one does not want to keep it. It is like a jigsaw puzzle that one passes on after one has put it together.

The downside is if you do want to keep it, you can not since it is rented. I like to add to what I have instead of sending it back and renting something totally new.

Some like to keep the movies they buy. For those who watch and don't want to keep it, Netflix is good for them.

BigGoofyGuy 16th September, 2013 @ 06:52 am PDT

In response to BigWarpGuy

I am a subscriber of Pleygo. If you like the sets and want to keep them you can. I just purchased a set two days ago, because it took such a long time to build I couldn't bear to part with it. It is now positioned on my fireplace. My next mission will be to tackle the Star Wars Series. These sets can be up to 3k or more pieces.